Family-friendly Skippered Sailing in the Cyclades, Greece
- Vessel: Zorba
- Where: The Cyclades, Greece
- Duration: 8 days
- Embark: Naxos, Greece - 3 August 2024, 18:00
- Disembark: Naxos, Greece - 10 August 2024, 09:00
Explore the Lesser Cyclades under sail with skippered yacht Zorba as you discover traditional Greek island charm.
Escape the crowds this summer and sail to explore the stunning Cyclades in Greece with skippered yacht Zorba. With individual berths or whole boat charter available, skippers Aga and Greg are on hand to make your sailing holiday in Greece one of pure relaxation and fun!
Dotted South off mainland Greece sitting sheltered in the Aegean Sea, the Cyclades are made up of around 220 islands, with a mix of both inhabited and uninhabited. This skippered sailing holiday concentrates mostly on the Lesser Cyclades. A smaller cluster of islands circulating the island of Naxos, often referred to as the pearl of the Cyclades and giving guests a traditional Greek holiday experience away from the tourist crowds.
- Fully crewed sailing yacht
- Island hopping & historical exploration
- Great for families & groups
- Eat on board and shoreside Taverna’s
- Suitable for beginners
- Whole boat yacht charter available
- Sail area & highlights
- Gallery
- Life on board
- Sample menu
- Travel planning
- The boat
- FAQs
- What's included
- Boat schedule
Your Sailing Area
Exploring the Lesser Cyclades under sail
Aga and Greg, the skippers of Zorba have topped the Lesser Cyclades (also referred to as the Small Cyclades) as one of their favourite sailing areas in Greece and you’ll quickly see why! From anchoring in beautiful deserted bays with crystal clear water, to discovering ancient ruins and historical sites, you’ll experience the very best of the unique Greek culture. The focus of this trip is to explore the untouched side of the Cyclades, away from the tourist hustle and bustle. Your route will entirely depend on the wind and weather and also the feeling of all the guests onboard.
For the island lover and adventure traveller, this chain of small, secluded islands is quite simply paradise. In the Lesser Cyclades, it’s all about switching off and adapting to island time. The magical combination of sailing, swimming, siestas, a good book and generous taverna meals will make you forget what day of the week it is. The flash boutiques, pumping nightclubs and selfie-stick-wielding crowds of Mykonos and Santorini are a million miles away.
Spend your days with a balance of sailing and exploring; snorkel in bays and caves, discover a WWII plane wreck, wander local villages and enjoy traditional Greek tavernas, of which Aga and Greg know the very best and are on hand to guide you every step of the way.
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Greek Island highlights
The sandy shores and crystal clear waters of Iraklia is a great choice for your first stop. Offering a historical walk to the Cave of the Sacred Icon of Agios Giannis – an initial scramble through the entrance leads to a sequence of caves full of stalactites and stalagmites.
The islands of Kufonissi (with its Caribbean-like turquoise water) and Schinoussa offer a truly unique and traditional Greek island experience. The dramatic mountain island of Amorgos is home to a breathtaking monastery carved into the rock, where the monks are waiting for you at the top with delicious psimeni (spiced “baked” raki) and loukoumi (Greek Delight you might say) after your stair climb.
If guests are interested in more sailing miles, Zorba may visit Ios and Folegandros offering one of the most scenic old towns (Choras) in the Cyclades. On the way back to Naxos, Paros (with its quieter sister Antiparos) offers guests a chance to visit and feel the “real Greece” with its relaxed local atmosphere. Near Antiparos, the islands of Despotico and Strongili, known for their unspoilt nature and protected species under the Natura 2000.
Zorba
Guest berths: 10 Rig: Sloop
Zorba lives up to her name as she takes guests on unforgettable, authentically Greek sailing holidays!
Built in 2007, Zorba is a modern and comfortable Beneteau Cyclades 50.5. She has five private cabins for guests, made up with four doubles and one twin bunk cabin; all share 3 bathrooms with showers. With a generous saloon and a well-equipped galley, Zorba was built with charter and guest comfort at the forefront of her design. A further skippers cabin with a separate entrance means guests have full and free use of the communal spaces. With a dropped transom and outdoor seating area at the stern, Zorba gives guests the perfect access to that crystal clear Mediterranean water!
A sailing holiday in Greece with Zorba is accessible to all ages and abilities. Her simple rig makes her an easy sail with winch systems and modern navigation equipment. That being said, she’s a great boat to sail whether you’re an experienced sailor looking for some sunshine or a novice wanting to try something new. Her owners and skippers absolutely love what they do and that’s very evident for guests to see and even better to experience first hand. They are well tuned to all abilities and ages, from family charters with young children to groups of friends or voyages for couples and solo travellers. They tailor every trip to suit their guests needs so if you simply want to sit back, enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine and enjoy the cuisine of the local tavernas – that’s fine too!
A sailing holiday on Zorba is certainly one that will leave you with long-lasting memories. Read more about what to expect from Life on Board Zorba here.
Among all the standard safety equipment required for charter, Zorba has a dinghy with a Tohatsu outboard engine, gas cooker and gas stove, refrigerator, ample storage space, 3 independent tanks of water (1000 litres each) a 400 litre fuel tank and portable air conditioning.
Deck plan

Life on board
Sailing with Zorba in Greece is one that will leave long-lasting memories and will more than likely see you longing to return. A modern Beneteau Cyclades 50.5, Zorba is owned, managed and skippered by couple Aga and Greg who share a real passion for Greece both from the water and on the land. Comfortable, relaxed and offering an abundance of sunshine sailing, Zorba is the perfect yacht to show guests a truly authentic sailing holiday in Greece.
A typical Day
After a relaxed breakfast, spend a few hours sailing before anchoring up in crystal clear waters to explore historical ruins ashore, sun-bathe or snorkel away the afternoon. Hoist the sails again to find a new spot for the night before enjoying dinner ashore in a traditional Greek Taverna, specially hand-picked by Aga and Greg.
Getting involved
Your sailing holiday in Greece is truly as you make it. Zorba is a fun and simple boat to sail and can be sailed by Greg alone if guests prefer a more relaxing experience. That being said, the larger Saronic Gulf gives some great winds for sailing for those wanting to learn the ropes in a safe and supported environment. Greg used to be a sailing instructor so he loves to share his knowledge and skill with guests. From knot tying, to basic navigation, take the helm and reading the local charts, guests are welcomed to get involved as much or as little as they’d like.
The price also reflects the half board nature of this holiday as explained in Zorba’s life on board section. Breakfast and lunch are included but you will dine out in traditional tavernas for your evening meals. This is at the cost of the guest, but you’ll find a delicious local spread for as little as 15€ per person – and that even includes the wine! There is also a board cash of €250pp payable upon arrival that covers fuel, marina fees and water per person. This is reflected in the ticket price advertised and is based purely on the economics of Greece still being such a cash based society.
Meet your Skippers
What’s included
- Half board (breakfast, lunch and snacks)
- All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet)
- Full crew plus tuition
- All tender trips to and fro the boat
- Lifejacket
- Fishing lines
What’s not included
- Evening meals
- Towels
- Waterproofs
- €250 cash per person on arrival for fuel, water and marina fees
- Any flights
- Transit hotels
- Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
- Travel insurance
- Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
- Crew tips
- Personal expenses
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be not more than 12miles offshore.
FAQ
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Are all meals included?
Yes
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Are there any added extra's?
No
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes - please specify at time of enquiry
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What language is spoken onboard?
English/Polish
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
4x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin
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How many toilet/showers does she have?
3
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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Is there WIFI?
No
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Are there life jackets provided?
Yes
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Are Waterproofs provided?
No
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.
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Will I be sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.
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Is bedding included?
All bedding is included but please bring towels.
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Is offshore sailing insurance required for Zorba's voyages?
No - but you will still need coastal sailing insurance in addition to your usual travel insurance.
Gallery
imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageTravel Planning
From: Naxos, Greece
To: Naxos, Greece
To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.
GETTING THERE
Naxos
Naxos is in easy reach from Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Naxos Airport has connecting flights to Athens International Airport only.
MYKONOS – to Naxos
Flights go direct to Mykonos International Airport with EasyJet from various UK airports. British Airways flights are from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
The port of Mykonos is also known as Tourlos or the New Port. It is only 3km from Mykonos Town and 5km from the airport (15–20-minute taxi or bus ride). From the port, there are ferry options to Naxos that take between 35 mins and 1 hour 20 mins.
ATHENS – Athens to Piraeus to Naxos
Flights go direct to Athens International Airport from London Stansted with Ryanair, and London Gatwick with Wizz Air, British Airways and easyJet.
You can catch a connecting flight internally to Naxos with Sky Express or get a Blue Star ferry from the port of Piraeus. Piraeus is approximately a 1-hour bus ride on the X96 (airport shuttle/express) from Athens International Airport. The ferry journey from Piraeus to Naxos varies between ferry operators and can take between 4-6 hours, depending on the type of ferry.
SANTORINI – to Naxos
Flights go direct to Santorini from London Stansted with Ryanair, from London Heathrow with British Airways and London Gatwick with easyJet. Tui flies from a few other UK airports.
All ferries depart from Athinios Port in Santorini, also known as the New Port or Thira Port. Travel time is usually between 1 hour 30 and 2 hours 50. The easiest way to the port is by taxi (there are no direct buses). There is a taxi rank outside the airport or you can pre-book a shuttle bus or private taxi in advance. The drive from the airport to the port is about 20 minutes.
FERRIES
Look at https://www.ferries.gr/en/ for the latest ferry timetables and we recommend booking your tickets in advance.
STAY IN NAXOS
Try Hotel Grotta, Naxos Antony Suites or Nastasia Village Boutique Hotel.